CHEF

US, 2014, 115 minutes, Colour.
Jon Favreau, John Leguizamo, Sophia Vergara, Scarlett Johansson, Emjay Anthony, Dustin Hoffman, Bobby Cannavale.
Directed by Jon Favreau.

Chef is very much the feel-good (feel-goodest!) film, a story about a chef, naturally, about his particular expertise in cooking and presentation of food, both high-class and popular, but it is also a story about family, especially the relationship between a son and his previously neglectful father.

By the end of writing, directing and starring in this film, Jon Favreau must become something of an expert in the kitchen, studying up how to work with implements, how to blend various ingredients, how to cook them exactly, how to present them. He is seen at the end of the film, during the final credits, having a lesson from a professional cook on how to prepare some dishes – which means that the audience staying for the credits would not be reading any of them because they will be focusing on the chef and his teacher.


Karl Kaspar is a big man, friends with his former wife (Sofia Vergara) but unable to live at home, rather neglectful of his son, Percy (played with quite some aplomb by young actor Emjay Anthony). He has a loyal staff, led by Martin (Jon Leguizamo), Molly (Scarlet Johansson) and Tony (Bobby Cannavale). He is up early, early to work, especially on the day that the food critic (Oliver Platt) is to visit the restaurant. Karl wants a special menu but his intransigent boss, played by Dustin Hoffman, insists on the tried and true menu, with the result that the critic posts an negative review.

Besides being a film about kitchens and chefs, this is a film about modern communications technology, especially Twitter (it might almost look that Twitter had investment in the film).While his son is expert on communications, and texts instantly to his mother, getting permission for things before Karl has had time to think twice about them, Karl decides to put a tweet against the reviewer, neglecting to realise that if he uses abusive language, it is out in the Twittersphere forever. Of course, this leads to his being fired and a continued feud of tweets. But it also means that all those following him on Twitter know where he is, what he is cooking, especially as his son continues to supply this as they travel to Miami where they buy a Food Truck and their journey back home through New Orleans and Austin, Texas. When they get to the cities, there is a crowd already lining up.

In Miami, they go to meet Karl’s wife’s former husband, a curiously comic cameo from Robert Downey Jr (who worked with Favreau on the Iron Man films) talking at cross purposes about three different subjects all in the one sentence! But he supplies the truck, Martin comes over to work with him, they decide to make Cuban and Hispanic food – and all goes well, even with the reviewer becoming less than recalcitrant and investing in a restaurant. Karl becomes a loving father and spends quality time with his son. The son appreciates working, working hard, with his father. And his mother is delighted with what is happening for the family. Happiness all round – except for Dustin Hoffman whom we never, just as well, see again!

This is very genial film which most audiences could enjoy full of exuberant Cuban music – though, a pity about the repetitious coarse language. Advice: keep looking at the food and ignoring the language.


1. Audience response to the film? Feel-good? Food delight? Bonding between father and son? Family? Social media? The blend of all these themes?

2. An American story, the Hispanic focus? Characters, music, food?

3. Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, Austin? The scenery across America? An American road trip? The musical score? The range of songs, tempo, rhythms?

4. The title, precise? Restaurants and details of work, cooking skills, motivations, staff and orderliness, restaurant owners, food critics, bloggers, customers? Reputations? The chef and is being fired, the bad review on the blog, the issue of the Truck? The menu and its range? The setup of the truck, buying it? Popularity of the food? Food and cooking? Cuban? The emphasis on Twitter and followers? The involvement in work? Family?

5. The work of Jon Favreau? Writing the screenplay, directing, the central role? His feel for the character, for cooking, the work, the details, relationships?

6. His dedication, Carl arriving at early hours, with Martin and Tony, with Molly? The bonds, the preparation of the food? Riva and his self-assertion, owning the restaurant, harsh attitudes, the menu and his wanting the tradition? The preparation for the food critic? Serving the critic, starting to read the review, the initial praise, the two stars, the criticism and personal comments, Carl’s weight, eating the food sent back…? Everybody reading the review? And wanting to avoid the situation?

7. Casper, his family situation, living alone, his marriage to Inez, the divorce, not seeing his son often, thinking himself a bad dad? The outings with the boy, the sharing, going to the movies? But the more ordinary talk, the bonding, via social media, the plan to go to New Orleans? Carl not able to go, his apology to his son? The character of Percy, his age, bonding with his mother, love for his father, the encounters with him – and improving?

8. The role of the social media, Twitter and the clash with the critic, everything becoming public, the growing number of friends? Carl, his being fired, everybody filming the clash with the critic on their mobile phones? The promotion of Twitter, as well as the realisation of the dangers for everything made public? The people following Carl, the humour of the policeman in Miami recognising him, wanting the photos for his family? The crowds following him?

9. Inez, formerly married to Marvin, the divorce, marrying Carl? Her work, her secretary? The arrangement for Carl to go to visit Marvin? His pregnant secretary? The cross-discussions about the pregnancy, the truck, Marvin’s business? Carl and his wondering about continuing her sexual relationship with Marvin?

10. Martin, genial, a good friend to Carl, working in the kitchen, with Bobby, the talk, the drinks at the bar? Supporting Carl, his becoming sous-chef? Tony, the initial hangover, going to work, supporting Carl, Riva and his outburst, offering the chef job to Tony, his hesitation, taking it? His later apology to Carl? Martin and the news of the truck, his coming instantly to Miami?

11. Carl and Percy in Florida, going shopping for the equipment, needing to lift the oven and Martin arriving? The Hispanic layabouts, their helping because of Martin’s threat to their migration status?

12. The scenes of cooking, creating the menus, Cuban food? Percy, his enjoying being with his father, learning to cook? Painting the truck? Driving round Miami, parking, the customers, the policeman and the permit, having to move further away – after the photos? The crowds coming to the truck? Going on the road, New Orleans, shopping in New Orleans, Percy and his getting all the information to Twitter? The surprise crowd? In Austin, the singers, the cash that they were pulling in? And the road trip through the American states?

13. Road film, time of bonding, Carl and his time and attention to his son, Percy sharing in the work, enjoying the work? Phone calls to his mother, her arrival? The tangled comments about loving, and a realisation in them both?

14. The social networks, the power of Twitter, the number of followers, and people literally following the truck? The impact of the insults between Carl and the critic, the visuals of the fight? Percy and his instant texting to his mother to get permissions and her replies? The one second films, Carl eventually watching the compiled film, memories of their trip? The older generation not always clear on the social networking, the younger generation taking it for granted?

15. The film critic and his view about the theatrics of the clash? Carl feeling hurt? The critic enjoying the food, selling his blog and wanting to invest with Carl. The popular restaurant in LA?

16. Arriving home, the continued work with the truck, the possibility of Percy working weekends and after school?

17. Inez and Carl, mellowing, love, the ending and the marriage ceremony and feast?

18. The credit sequence with Jon Favreau being trained by a professional cook for the sandwiches?

19. An enjoyable screen experience?